Rotary steam-engine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1..

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ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

Patented Nov, 10, 1885.

WITNESSES N, PETERSv Phnmulhe ra mr. washin mn. D. C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheet sSheet '2.

' W. 0. OWEN, J1.

ROTARY STEAM ENGINE.

plate, A3, bolted thereon.

UNITED STATES PATENT rrion.

XVILLIAM O. OWEN, JR, OF LYNGHBURG, VIRGINIA.

ROTARY STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 330,347, dated November 10, 1885 I Application filed September 10, 1885. Serial No. 176,685. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM O. OWEN, Jr.,, of Lynchburg in the county of Campbell and State of Virginia, have invented certain new' and useful Improvements in Rotary Steam-Em gines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification, in which-- Figure 1 is a front or side elevation of my improved rotary engine with the front plate removed. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the engine complete. Fig. 3 is a face view of the body-plate; Fig. 4, a similar view of the cam-grooved plate. Fig. 5is a horizontal section of the engine. Fig. 6 is aseotional detail of the valve. Fig. 7 is ahorizont-al. section of the cut-off; Fig. 8, a transverse section of the same; Fig. 9, a perspective of the cutoff guard.

The invention relates to improvements in rotary steamengines, and its object is to provide a reversible engine of simple and cheap construction in which the expansive force of the steam can be utilized. 1

The invention consists in the construction and novel arrangement of parts hereinafter explained, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by letter, A designates the case of the engine, of cylindrical form and standing on the base A, whichis bolted or otherwise secured to a proper supporting-bed. The case A is composed of the body portion A and the circular front The body portion A has a central opening, a, through which the main shaft passes, a similar opening, a, being made in the plate A for the same purpose.

A is a circular chamber made on the inside of the body portion A by the wide circular flange a, which stands therefrom, and is concentric with the shaft. When the plate A is bolted on, the chamber A is closed, .and is packed steam-tight.

B is the main shaft rotating centrallyin the case and passing through stuffing-boxes on the front plate thereof.

B is a disk secured on the shaft concentrig therewith within the chamber A. The disk B fits accurately against the sides of the chamber A, and forms within said chamber the steam space, B concentric with the shaft. The disk B is made steam-tight by any proper packing. I

'B is the piston-block secured upon the circumference of the disk 13, and more fully described hereinafter. The engine may have several abutments, but it is preferable to have two only. If there are more than two, theyare duplications of each other, and the description of one only is necessary.

O is one of the abutments of rectangular form and moving inthe radial recess 0, made in the flange a of the casing. of the abutment adjacent to the side of the body portion A of the casing stands out at right angles the steel pin 0, having on its end the steel or case'hardened friction-roller 0 The pin passes through a radial slot, 0 in the wall of the body portion A of the casing, and enters a cam-groove, c", in the plate 0, fixed on the main shaft and rotating therewith in juxtaposition with the casing. This camgroove c -is made with one portion, X, concentric with the shaft for a distance of a little more than one hundred and eighty degreessay one hundredand eighty-five degrees. Another portion, X, of the cam-groove is concentric withthe shaft on the arc of a larger circle for from twenty to forty degrees. The radial difference between the circles on which the portions X X are made is equal to the width of the steam-space B The parts X X are connected on each side by the eccentric parts 00 ac.

The main shaft B turns in bearings D D,

made on standards D D, which rise from the- From the edge ing channels ff, opening upon the circumference thereof. The channels ff, respectively, meet and continue the channels G G, which run radially through the piston-block B and the disk B, and open on opposite sides of the piston-block by means of the transverse channels g g, respectively.

G G are grooves made from the outer ends of the channels G G along the top and sides of the piston-block, and intended to receive steam and pack the piston-block therewith to prevent friction. The piston-block may, if desired, be packed in the ordinary manner. The channels F F open at their outer. ends upon the circumference of the shaft through the channels H H, respectively.

I I are cylindrical steam-cases, which surround the shalt over the openings of the channels H H, respectively, the shaft passing through stuffing-boxes in the ends of said cases. From the cases I I run the pipes h h to the valve-chest J, which is provided with the exhaust-port K,situated between the openings k k of the pipes 12 h. The valve-chest is connected with the boiler by a steam-pipe. L, controlled by a proper throttle-valve, and has on its interior a slide, M, which is controlled by the pivoted lever-handle M, and is arranged to direct the steam through either pipe h or h. When the steam is admitted by the pipe h, it exhausts through the pipe h, and when admitted through pipe h it exhausts through h. Each steam-case I I has on its interior a cut-off tube, N, which fits over the mainshaft, and can be moved longitudinally by means of a rod, n, parallel with the shaft and passing through a stuffing-box on the outer end of the casing. The rod N is provided with a proper handle outside of the case, and is graduated so that it can be accurately set to out off the desired amount of steam.

The inner end of the cut-off tube N is beveled or inclined, so that it will lie more or less over the path of the rotating mouth of the channel H or H, according as the tube is moved inward or outward. If the engine has two abutments, each cut-off tube has two similar and opposite bevels. The number of bevels of the cut-off tubes is equal. to the number of abutments with which the engine is provided.

The method of operating the engine is as follows: Ifit is desired to run the engine by a continuous steam-pressure, both cut-off tubes N are slid back, so that the openings of the bores F F in the main shaft are uncovered during the entire revolution of the same. The connection of the pipes h h with the valveproper position to receive steam during the desired part of the rotation of the shaft. The steam can thus be admitted during the whole rotation of the main shaft or during'any part of the same, the rod n gaging the extent of slide of the cut-offN.

The formation of the cam-groove 0 causes one abutment to close just as the pistonblock has passed it and the other abutment to open, the interior steam-pressure aiding in sliding out the opening abutment.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. In a rotary steam engine, the combinationof the main shaft having the steam and exhaust channels made longitudinally therein, and the cut-offtubes surrounding the main shaft and adapted to be adjusted at different positions upon the openings of the steam and exhaust channels of the main shaft, substantially as specified.

2. In a rotary steam-engine, the combination of the shaft having the steam and exhaust channels made therein, the steam-cases surrounding the openings of said channels, and the cut-offtubeshaving the ends beveled, as described.

3. In a rotary steam-engine, the combination of the shaft having the steam-exhaust channels made therein, the steam-cases surrounding the port of said channels, the cutoff tubes with beveled ends, the steam-pipes running from the steam-cases to the valvechest, and the valve-chest adapted to reverse the engine, substantially as specified.

4. In a rotary steam-engine, the combination of the casing having the steam-chamber formed therein, the shaft provided with steam and exhaust channels, the disk secured to and rotating with the shaft, and the pistonblock secured to the disk and provided with steam and exhaust ports, substantially as specified.

5. In a rotary steam-engine, the combination of the main casing having the steamspace formed therein, the shaft, the disk and piston -block rotating with the shaft, the abutment-blocks provided with the 'steel'pins, which pass through radial slots in the casing, and the cam-grooved disk, which is secured to the shaft and actuates the abutment-blocks substantially as specified.

6. In a rotary steam-engine, the combination of the cylindrical main casing, the shaft receiving steam and exhausting through its axis, the disk and piston-block rotating with IIO the shaft, the abutment-blocks provided with steel pins passing through radial slots in the main casing, and the cam-grooved disk secured to the shaft and actuating the abutmentblocks, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

W. O. OWEN, JR. Witnesses:

J AMEs'. H. HARTE, JAMES MONAGHAN. 

